The management of the Federal University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Akure (FUTATH), Ondo State, has vowed to prosecute any staff found involved in an alleged employment extortion scheme linked to the hospital.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Head of Public Relations, Mr. Tope Fayehun, the management said it had become aware that certain persons, “posing as important officers”, collected money and gratification from job seekers with promises of securing placement in the new federal teaching hospital.

According to the statement, job applicants reportedly paid sums ranging from ₦200,000 to ₦600,000 and were issued “appointment letters” in the name of the Management of the defunct UNIMED Teaching Hospital, Akure.

FUTATH said the fraudulent activity happened before the takeover of the hospital by the Federal Government. It added that some of the workers now protesting are trying to “cover up their financial malfeasances” committed during the transition from the now-defunct UNIMED Teaching Hospital to the new Federal Teaching Hospital.

The hospital stated that only those whose employment followed due process would be captured in the ongoing IPPIS biometric verification exercise being conducted by the IPPIS Directorate.

Fayehun also debunked claims that the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Olusegun Ojo, was conducting selective biometric capturing, describing it as “patent white lies designed to damage the reputation of the CMD and the institution”.

Management further revealed that some affected job-seekers are now demanding refunds from the fraudsters after realizing they would not be absorbed into the Federal establishment as promised.

This comes amid a broader crackdown on job racketeering in Ondo. The Ondo State Head of Service, Mr. Bayo Philip, recently warned that any civil servant involved in job racketeering would be fired, citing cases where fraudsters collected up to ₦3m from applicants during the SUBEB teacher recruitment.

FUTATH is advising the public to disregard anyone demanding money for employment at FUTATH.

All recruitment will follow federal guidelines and official channels.

Anyone with information should report to hospital management to aid investigation.

Sources: Punch, New Telegraph, The Source, Tribune